Damien Johnson said first team debuts for Tyler Magloire and John Buckley have come as a boost to the whole Under-23s squad.

Magloire, who has captained Johnson’s side this season, was withdrawn from the Under-23s side for their game with Brighton last week to make himself available for the first team game with Wigan where he started as part of a back three.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a fine season for Rovers in Premier League 2, with first team boss Tony Mowbray promising minutes for a number of the club’s young players in the final weeks of the season.

That saw John Buckley come on as a substitute in the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, despite having played 80 minutes for the Under-23s in the Premier League Cup at Stoke City on Friday.

On the debuts, Johnson said: “It’s fantastic. And it’s good for the group in general because ultimately that’s what it’s about in terms of this being the platform to show they can make that step up.

“If opportunities arise to be involved in the first team then they have to be ready.

“He showed what he has done at this level because he’s done well and has some good attributes.

“It’s really good for them.”

Magloire, along with Buckley and Dan Butterworth, who made his first team debut in August, plus Lewis Travis and Joe Nuttall, who are regulars in Mowbray’s squad, had loan interest last month.

For Magloire in particular, he has benefited from staying at the club having overtaken the likes of Scott Wharton, Matty Platt and Joe Grayson in the pecking order. The trio have all enjoyed mixed fortunes away from Ewood Park, with Platt and Wharton swapping clubs in January after a lack of opportunities in the first half of the campaign. 

Ryan Nyambe made his senior debut for Rovers, rather than out on loan, and Johnson added: “A lot of the young lads are transfixed on this idea that they have to go out on loan. But we know from experience that’s not always the case and the best pathway to the first team.

“Sometimes if you’re in the building and doing well for us on a regular basis then if opportunities arise for whatever reason, Ryan Nyambe was in a similar situation with injuries at the time, Lewis Travis has benefited from it.”